Migration Mapping From the Americas

Labour
flows from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to Canada are rising for
several reasons, including labour shortages, an aging population and heightened
growth in numerous occupational sectors in Canada. In 2008, Canada attracted
193,000 temporary migrant workers—representing a significant increase over
the past ten years—in both skilled and lesser skilled occupations. While many
of these workers come from traditionally important migrant-sending countries
such as Mexico and Jamaica, an increased number of workers are coming from
Central America (i.e. El Salvador and Guatemala) and South America (i.e.
Colombia). For example, the Embassy of El Salvador in Canada is actively
working with Canadian employers to recruit Salvadorians to work in provinces and
sectors facing labour shortages. In 2007, Mexico and Canada demonstrated
political interest in expanding circular labour flows between the two countries
by creating a Labour Mobility Working Group within the Canada-Mexico
Partnership (CMP). This group aims to promote labour mobility between both
countries in three sectors: hospitality, construction and financial services.

In this context, there is
an urgent need to generate informed research and analysis to better understand
the nature and changing patterns of temporary foreign worker migration flows to
Canada from the LAC region. Furthermore, there is a lack of sufficient and/or
readily available information in Canada about the development impacts of labour
migration in sending regions.

To address this, The
Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL) and the
International Migration Research Centre are building an interactive,
web-based analytical mapping tool with data and information about temporary
migration and development in order to provide critical information and fresh
perspectives to inform and provide options for new policy agendas.